Background:
Official purpose: A bill to eliminate the marriage tax penalty permanently in 2003. S. 1196 is an updated version of S. 120, a marriage penalty relief bill that Senator Hutchison introduced earlier this year.

HSLDA's Position:
On June 7, 2001 President Bush signed into law the marriage penalty tax relief act (Public Law No: 107-16). This new law amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by gradually reducing the marriage tax penalty, adjusting the standard deduction, the 15 percent rate bracket, and the earned income credit. The new law was set to begin after December 31, 2004.If passed into law, S. 1196 would amend current law and eliminate the marriage penalty tax permanently, retroactive to January 1, 2003. HSLDA has been a long supporter of the marriage penalty tax relief plan.